Daniel l



Laim Paaetlvo. 78,792, daad Jima e,a 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN -DRILLI die intitule einer it initrsttitututmt mit uiting part tt tte ma.

To ALL WHoMfI'r MAY concerns:

Beit known thatA I, DANIEL L. DIoKsON, of Durham, in the county of Hancock, and in the Statoof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Drills; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had totheaccompsuying drawings', and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

VIn thc annexed drawings, making part of this specification, A represents a frame, made of suitahle size for a seeding-machine, and supported at its forward end by means of a caster-wheel, B, and at its rear ond by means of a cast-iron roller, C. This roller is provided with journals upon its ends, which have their bearings in the frame A, and also has cest upon its periphery a, series of flanges, D D, which are made broad enough to run inthe furrows in which the grain is deposited, to complici; the earth immediately over andjust about the grain, for the purpose hereinafter stated. Afbox, J, is erected upon the centre of the frame, und is secured crosswise upon it. Runniu'g'from one end of this bo'x to-theothcr is a shaft, F, which has its bearings in the ends ofthe box, and upon this box a series. of wheels, G G, with grooved peripheries, is secured at proper intervals. Upon top of the box J is secured a seed-hopper, This hopper has openingscut in its: bottom to correspond with openings cut in the top of the box J. These openings are immediately over the grooves in the wheels G G, and admit'grain to them. H represents a slide in the bottom of the hopper, which is intended tn open or close the seed-openings, or to regulate the amountof seed which passes to the grooved wheels. This slide is regulated oy arod, a, undlever-handle, d. O O represent a series of llulrey or drnw-bars, which nre hinged to the forward part of the frame, and whose rear ends pass baclrunder box J, Aund rest over the roller C. To those hers are Secured the seed-dischargeispouts, which perform the usual functions of opening the furrow Vfor and depositing the grain. A rod passes underthe rear ends of these bars, and is regulated by means et a lever, R. This lever serves to raise the rear ends of said bars for the purpose of raising the seedspouts.v

out of the ground whenneeessary. E represents a scraper, which has teeth, which project in hctweeny the flanges D D of the roller C, for the 'purpose of keeping it free from dirt, itc. This scraper is governed by a lever, T. Thc'lcvers li, R, and T 'are all within reaching distance of the operator, who sits in the scat at S.

In usingl this machine, the grain is p laced in the'hopper I, and the machine is drawn forward by a suitable team. The roller C, revolving, drives the shaft F by means of L, K, and M. The wheel L is secured upon the shaft o' roller C, and gears into an idle-wheel, K, and this idle-wheel gears into the wheel M, which issecured to the shaft F: The grain passes' through freni the hopper to the grooved wheels G, and is carried by them into the discharge-spouts, and through them it passes .to the earth. The anges of the rollerC follow in the furrows, in which the grain has Ibeen deposited, and `packs the earth over and around the seed. The object of this hanged roller is to pack the earth over the seedand in the bottom of the furrow, so that the grain will 4 be protect-cd'from cold during the winter, and will'not be so liable to winter-kill.

The ridges between the drills of grainserve to break the' wind, and at the same time cause the snow to drift' into and over the furro'ws containing the grain, and thus protect it from freezing.

When the frost comes-out of the ground in the spring, the bottoms of the furrows do not nphcave, while, on the other hand, the `earth from the ridges falls in around tho grain, `and the moisture and rains pack it, which protects its roots.

The great objecty of this machine is, as' before stated, to prevent the winter-killing of wheat, or other small grain. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi--- The arrangement of the shaft F in the box .Land provided with a` serios of wheels with circumferential grooves, in combination with the hinged llnkc-bars O O, that extend urflcr the hopper to the flanged roller C the various4 parts being constructed and operating substantially as specified.

ln testimony that I claim thc-foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of March, 1868.

l DANIEL L. DICKSON.

Witnesses:

J. H. RtwsoN, Evsnnrr Munson. 

